Container



April 22, 1969 H. F. TODMAN ET AL CONTAINER Filed Oct. 27, 1967 VENTORS HOWARD F. TODMAN 8 EDWARD T-COOPER ATTORNEY? United States Patent 3,439,797 CONTAINER Howard F. Todman, Rye, N.Y., and Edward T. Cooper, Haworth, N..I., assignors to Todman-Cooper Company, a partnership Filed Oct. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 678,553 Int. Cl. A24f 15/04 US. Cl. 206-412 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for cigarettes comprising a sleeve of rectangular cross-section divided transversely into two symmetrical sections by a continuous cut midway its ends through two sides and a front face. The two sections can be folded into back-to-back relation, and, after the package is thus initially opened, the sections can be separated to provide two compact, easily carried packages. An insert slidably disposed within each sleeve section has an opening at one corner so that when the insert is pushed partially out of its sleeve section to eX- pose the Opening, a cigarette can be easily removed. The insert is then returned to its initial position to close the package.

Cigarettes are conventionally packaged either in a package made of a soft paper, frequently termed a soft pack, or in a package made of a harder, semi-stiff paper, frequently termed a hard pack or a flip-top box. Both the existing soft pack type of cigarette package and the existing hard pack type of cigarette package require considerable effort to open. Even when such a package is open, some degree of effort is required to remove cigarettes from it, particularly when the package is first opened and the cigarettes are closely packed within it. If the user has one hand occupied in some other manner, it is extremely difiicult, if not impossible to remove a cigarette from either of these existing package types. In addition, both the soft pack and the hard pack types of packages, in the customary ZO-cigarette size, are bulky and cumbersome, creating a bulge if placed in a pocket and occupying considerable space if carried in a purse.

The present invention is a container, suitable for use as a cigarette package, which is easily opened and from which cigarettes or other contents can be readily removed, with one hand if necessary. The container of the present invention is made from the same type of semistiff paper as existing hard pack types of cigarette packages, and provides a compact, easily carried package for cigarettes and the like.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the following detailed description and claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like reference numbers.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, adapted for 20 cigarettes, shown in the flat, unfolded position in which it would be first sold;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIGURE 1 in the folded-back position after initial opening;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the insert used within the sleeve sections of a container of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

3,439,797 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 2.

As depicted in FIGURE 1, the container of the present invention includes an elongated rectangular outer sleeve 10, divided into two symmetrical sections 12 and 14. Each section 12 and 14- is of-a rectangular shape, having a closed front face 16, a closed back face 18, two closed sides 20 and 22, and two open ends 24 and 26. Sleeve section 12 contains insert 28, while sleeve section 14 contains insert 30.

Sleeve 10 is formed of a single piece of semi-stiff paper. Front face 16 is divided by cuts 32 and preferably an opening 34, and closed sides 20 and 22 are cut at 36, thereby dividing sleeve 10 into the two symmetrical sections 12 and 14. Back face 18 is not cut, but preferably includes perforations 38, opposite cut 32, which retain the unitary construction of sleeve 10 while permitting the container to be folded to provide the compact form depicted in FIGURE 2.

Each insert 28 and 30 forms a tray, as shown in FIG- URE 3. Each tray includes a fiat back face 40, two closed sides 42 and 44, and two closed ends 46 and 48. Flap 50 extends from end 46 to a short distance to cover a portion of the open face of the tray, opposite closed face 40. Likewise, flap 52 extends from end 48 to cover a portion of the open face of the tray, opposite closed face 40. For ease of construction, the junctions of sides 42 and 44 with ends 46 and 48 and with flaps 50 and 52 need not be joined. Thus, each tray can be formed by folding a flat Sheet of semi-stiff paper.

Flap 50 includes a notch 54 extending a short distance across its width from side 42 and a short distance up its length from end 46. Closed face 40 has a similar notch 56 opposite notch 54. Side 42 is shorter than the length of the tray, ending at notches 54 and 56. As a result, an opening exists in the corner of the insert large enough to permit removal of a cigarette or other item.

When packaged for shipment and sale, the container can be left in the flat position of FIGURE 1 or can be in the folded position of FIGURE 2. In either event, the container can be enclosed in a cellophane or other easily removed transparent covering (not shown). To provide a more decorative package, much of the labelling and other necessary printing can be included on the transparent covering, to be removed when the package is initially opened. The cigarettes or other contents are placed within each tray 28 and 30 with their longitudinal axis parallel to tray ends 46 and 48 and thus parallel to open ends 24 and 26 of sections 12 and 14, as shown in FIGURE 4.

If the container is sold in the flat position of FIGURE 1, then after the transparent covering is removed, the container is readily folded along perforations 38 to the position of FIGURE 2. A disposable tab (not shown) can be provided to hold the container in this folded position, if desired. Additionally, the container can be torn along perforations 38 to separate sections 12 and 14 into separate packages so that one of the sections 12 or 14 can be carried within the pocket or purse Without causing a bulge or occupying excessive Space.

When it is desired to remove a cigarette, or other item from the package, one of the sleeve sections such as sleeve section 14 is held in a vertical position and is opened by pushing its insert 30 down until end 48 is at the level of opening 34, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5. Notches 54 and 56 are then exposed below section 16, and the cigarette or other item 58 can be grasped by the fingertips for easy removal, as depicted in FIGURE 6. This can be accomplished with one hand, if necessary. Insert 30 is then raised into sleeve section 14, closing the package. As insert 30 is raised and lowered within sleeve section 14, the movement causes the cigarettes to fall toward end 46 so that each time the insert is lowered a cigarette is exposed at notches 54 and 56 until all the cigarettes have been removed from that section of the package. Although FIGURES 2 and 5 depict the two sleeve sections 12 and 14 joined, obviously removal of a cigarette can be accomplished even more easily when the two sections are separated at perforations 38.

If desired, arrows 60 can be printed on flap 50 to indicate the direction in which cigarette 58 is to he slid to remove it from the package. Additionally, arrow 62 can be printed on flap 52 to indicate the direction in which the insert is to he slid to open the package.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a container for cigarettes are other items which can be easily opened and from which contents can be easily removed, with one hand if necessary, and which is compact so that it does not create a bulge in the pocket or occupy excessive space in the purse. The size :of the container can, of course be adjusted to provide a package for any desired length and quantity of cigarettes or other contents.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising an elongated rectangular sleeve with first and second closed faces, first and second closed sides, and first and second open ends, said first face having a transverse cut therein and each said side having a cut therein joining said first face transverse cut to divide said sleeve into first and second symmetrical sections, first and second slidably removable trays within said first and second sections, respectively, each said tray including a' closed face, first and second closed sides, and first and second closed ends.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which in at least one :of said trays the closed face has a notch adjacent its first side and first end and said first side terminates at said notch, whereby the grasping of contents of the container is facilitated.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which each of the trays having a notch in the closed face further includes first and second flaps extending from its first and second ends, respectively, to partially close said tray opposite its closed face, said first flap having a notch adjacent said first side and said first end and opposite said closed face notch.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2 for containing a plurality of cigarettes within each tray and aligned parallel to the tray ends, in which the notch has a transverse dimension at least as great as the diameter of the cigarettes to be contained.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the sleeve second face is transversely perforated oposite the sleeve first face transverse cut.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1 formed of semistiff paper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, 0.0. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,439,797 April 22, 1969 Howard F. Todman et a1 It is certified that error appears in the ebove identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2 line 23 cancel "to". Column 3 line 15 "are" should read or Column 4 line 28 "7/1953" should read 7/1936 same column 4 list of References Cited, add the following references l ,863 ,190 6/1932 Coulapides 206 3 ,l 07 ,()08 10/1963 Margulies 206-41. 2

Signed and sealed this 2151: day of April 1970 (SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

